How to Buy the Best Sailboat: An Updated Edition of the Leading Consumer Guide With a New Chapter on Selling a Boat [Paperback]

Chuck Gustafson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1991

The leading guide to the maze of boats, builders, and brokers that confronts every prospective sailboat buyer. This comprehensive manual covers every aspect of the boat-buying process, from material, design, negotiations, moorage, and insurance to the advantages and disadvantages of various rigging plans, hull designs, and other equipment. 85 photographs; 29 illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Gustafson, who teaches a course on purchasing sailboats at the University of Washington, offers this matter-of-fact, no-nonsense update on the subject's intricacies. Without excessive detail, he deals with myriad aspects from keel and stern shapes to cabin layout, wiring, engines, and rigging. Readers will appreciate his realistic acceptance of what is likely to be available, since too many authors recommend types of boats that are no longer around, e.g., long keels with attached rudders. Gustafson avoids recommending any specific builder. His book will keep the prospective buyer on an even course--not dazzled by the smell of new fiberglass or the color of the bunk cushions. (Illustrations not seen). Recommended.
- Robert E. Greenfield, formerly with Baltimore Cty. P.L.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 302 pages
• Publisher: Hearst Marine Books; Revised edition (November 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068810987X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688109875
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #984,128 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Primer, March 29, 1999

By 

M. Mitchell (Lake Tahoe) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Buy the Best Sailboat: An Updated Edition of the Leading Consumer Guide With a New Chapter on Selling a Boat (Paperback)

Clearly considers a broad selection of information for one to consider in purchasing a sailboat. Including your personal values and anticipated use, construction,performance,self-survey, equipment and more. Spends to much time talking about outdated rigs (schooners,cats), hull materials (ferrocement, wood). Overall Good value for the price of the book. Would I buy again. Yes.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice book, a lot of details, well worth the time required to read, June 16, 2006

By 

Amalfi Coast Girl (Mid-Atlantic, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Buy the Best Sailboat: An Updated Edition of the Leading Consumer Guide With a New Chapter on Selling a Boat (Paperback)

A woman that loves the water and sailing the Chesapeake Bay in her Dufour 35 writes this review. I purchased my boat without any research or knowledge of sailing or sailboats. I don't recommend this method to others. I was very fortunate that things didn't go badly. I have heard many horror stories at the marina and wanted to learn more, even though it was after the fact. That is the reason I purchased this book.

This book covers many aspects of the sailboat acquisition that had never occurred to me, even after going through it once. I found this book to be very complete from both the perspective of the prospective sailboat buyer and the current sailboat owner.

The book is subdivided as follows:
1. Learning from other's experiences
2. Sailboat selection prerequisites
3. Self-survey criteria for the engine and electrical systems
4. Self- survey criteria for below decks
5. Self-survey criteria for other equipment
6. Evaluating the designer, building, dealer/broker
7. Making the decision
8. Finalizing the sale
9. Other aspects of the decision
10. How to sell your boat

Appendix A: Sea Trial Checklist
Appendix B: Starter List of Tools and Spare Parts
Appendix C: Performance Criteria Checklist
Appendix D: Self-Survey Criteria Checklist
Appendix E: Summary Data Format
Appendix F: Pricing Worksheet
Appendix G: Long Term Costs Worksheet
Appendix H: Sailboat Evaluation Checklist

This book is written from the perspective of a day sailor that is compulsive about construction and fast sailboats. Given that I agree on all fronts, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Even though it is out of date, it still contains a lot of valuable information. I wouldn't consider getting rid of this book until a suitable replacement came along.

If you are serious about buying a sailboat, this book has much information to offer. I highly recommend this book. It does reflect a very accurate picture of what sailboat ownership is all about. I only wish that I had purchased this book before my first boat, and not after the fact.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All you need to know?, February 21, 2001

By 

Jim Morrison (Hansville, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Buy the Best Sailboat: An Updated Edition of the Leading Consumer Guide With a New Chapter on Selling a Boat (Paperback)

This is a neat little book with lots of wisdom Gustafson apparently learned through experience. Some "how to buy a sailboat" books seem to be written by naval architects or good writers with limited experience. But this one combines experience with science. I have quite a few years experience sailing all sorts of boats in several locations and have owned several boats, but I still found myself taking notes while I read the book. You will too, I think, enjoy this little masterpiece. When purchasing or researching a sailboat to purchace this book will save you time and help you make an informed decision.